It's that time of the year when you start making New Year Resolutions! Regardless of whether you stick to them or not, they do give you a sense of change; a new start and something to look forward to. But let us not look at the usual things like "I will hit the gym" or "I will work harder." Rather than trying to set some goals that are too high for us to achieve, why not look at some resolutions that will make everyday life more interesting?
Get your photo taken in
five interesting places
If you've got the travel bug and want to see a bit more of the world, why not make it a New Year's resolution to visit five interesting places you've always wanted to see? Even better, make a visual record of the year by making sure you get a photo of yourself taken in each place. Good photo opportunities include inside an igloo in Lapland, on the Great Wall of China, inside a volcanic crater or floating in the Dead Sea, but use your imagination to think of your own - the world's your oyster after all.
Learn a decent party trick
You know that party trick you've got, the one that always comes out after a couple of drinks? Think about it; is it really so impressive in the cold light of day? If the answer is no, it's about time you learned a new trick; one that will really impress. Mastering a new skill - no matter how pointless - can increase your self-esteem, as well as earning you some serious social kudos next time you reveal it in public. For a physical challenge, why not work on your flexibility for a spot of contortion, or give yourself a mental challenge and learn how to recite the alphabet backwards in less than 10 seconds.
Try a new food each week
Rather than cutting out foods from your diet as with so many New Year's resolutions, opt to add more foods into your diet next year instead (bonus points if they're green!). Many of us don't eat a varied enough diet, so ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs - as well as enhancing your enjoyment of food - by making a resolution to try a new food each week. Try hitting the fruit and veg aisle first to sample some exotic fruit and vegetables you may have yet to try, such as dragon fruit, lychees, romanescu and plantain.
Sort out a financial worry
Along with our mind and body, it is absolutely essential that our finances too are in perfect health. To get your year a good start, try getting your finances in order by making a resolution to sort out one area of financial worry. Perhaps you spend a fortune on petrol or maybe it is your food bills that are blowing your budget? Try to think of some alternatives to the main causes of financial stress, such as cycling to work instead of driving, growing your own vegetables or making your own beauty products. Not only will coming up with alternative solutions help you save some money, you may find that you enjoy them and that they boost your health too.
